Jeffrey Sweet News

Artistic New Directions proudly presents A Time to Dance, a magical fusion of storytelling and creative dance, as part of the 13th annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC. A Time to Dance is written and performed by Libby Skala.

Victory Gardens Theater, Chicago's #1 producer of new plays, is planning a bold launch for its 2009-2010 season with Ignition, the company's first-ever national festival of new plays by America's top emerging writers of color under 40 years old.

Artistic New Directions proudly presents Libby Skala's one-woman show, A Time to Dance, a magical fusion of storytelling and creative dance, as part of the 13th annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC. A Time to Dance is written and performed by Libby Skala.

Continuing a tradition that dates back to 1920, when Burns Mantle founded the annual Best Plays Theater Yearbook, the Best Plays of 2008-2009 were announced today by editor Jeffrey Eric Jenkins.

Autumn Fruits are a ripe and tasty treat in the 7th Annual Fresh Fruit Festival. Autumn Fruits, two short plays about growing old in New York, written by Barbara Kahn and Suellen Rubin, will be performed Friday July 24, 2009 at 7:30pm and Saturday, July 25, 2009 at 2:30pm.

Artistic New Directions proudly presents A Time to Dance, a magical fusion of storytelling and creative dance, as part of the 13th annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC. A Time to Dance is written and performed by Libby Skala.

Autumn Fruits are a ripe and tasty treat in the 7th Annual Fresh Fruit Festival. Autumn Fruits, two short plays about growing old in New York, written by Barbara Kahn and Suellen Rubin, will be performed Friday July 24, 2009 at 7:30pm and Saturday, July 25, 2009 at 2:30pm.

Wendy Kesselman's 'The Black Monk', which ran Off-Broadway from November 30th, 2008 through January 3rd, 2009, featuring Austin Pendleton, Elon Rutberg, Julie Craig, and Scott Robertson - under the direction of Kevin Newbury and musical direction of Chris Berg (with cellist Arthur Cook), will be making an original cast recording on Monday, May 25th, 2009. The album will be produced/engineered by Grammy Award winner John Kilgore. It will be released online in the fall exclusively on iTunes, and a record deal is pending.

Off-Broadway's The Play Company brings together some of NYC's top chefs and theater artists for its sixth annual gala CABARET GOURMET 2009 -- a unique evening hosted by Broadway's Richard Kind (THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST'S WIFE and THE PRODUCERS) and featuring musical entertainment by cabaret legend Karen Akers (NINE and GRAND HOTEL), along with savory and sweet dishes prepared by chefs from several of the city's most celebrated restaurants -- on Monday, April 27 at 7 p.m. at the American Airlines Theatre Penthouse (227 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan.

Off-Broadway's The Play Company brings together some of NYC's top chefs and theater artists for its sixth annual gala CABARET GOURMET 2009 -- a unique evening hosted by Broadway's Richard Kind (THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST'S WIFE and THE PRODUCERS) and featuring musical entertainment by cabaret legend Karen Akers (NINE and GRAND HOTEL), along with savory and sweet dishes prepared by chefs from several of the city's most celebrated restaurants -- on Monday, April 27 at 7 p.m. at the American Airlines Theatre Penthouse (227 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan.

Off-Broadway's The Play Company brings together some of NYC's top chefs and theater artists for its sixth annual gala CABARET GOURMET 2009 -- a unique evening hosted by Broadway's Richard Kind (THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST'S WIFE and THE PRODUCERS) and featuring musical entertainment by cabaret legend Karen Akers (NINE and GRAND HOTEL), along with savory and sweet dishes prepared by chefs from several of the city's most celebrated restaurants -- on Monday, April 27 at 7 p.m. at the American Airlines Theatre Penthouse (227 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan.

Off-Broadway's The Play Company brings together some of NYC's top chefs and theater artists for its sixth annual gala CABARET GOURMET 2009 -- a unique evening hosted by Broadway's Richard Kind (THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST'S WIFE and THE PRODUCERS) and featuring musical entertainment by cabaret legend Karen Akers (NINE and GRAND HOTEL), along with savory and sweet dishes prepared by chefs from several of the city's most celebrated restaurants -- on Monday, April 27 at 7 p.m. at the American Airlines Theatre Penthouse (227 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan.

Theater for the New City presents the premiere of Walking from Rumania, a journey to freedom in 1899, by award-winning playwright Barbara Kahn Theater for the New City, Crystal Field, Executive Artistic Director, proudly announces the world premiere production of Walking from Rumania, a historical drama written and directed by Barbara Kahn.

The critically acclaimed open mic series, Big Night Out returns! Billed as a delicious gathering for the musical community, Big Night Out is a unique and supportive environment for performers and composers of all backgrounds to come together and perform the music that they love. Hosted by The Fabulous Jennifer Wren, who made her cabaret debut in 2006 with her revue Love, Rainbows and All at Don't Tell Mama, and resident Musical Director William 'Bill' Zeffiro, singers are encouraged to try out new material, sing the roles that they aspire to play, sing the roles they will never play, or just show off for the joy of it.

Theater for the New City presents the premiere of Walking from Rumania, a journey to freedom in 1899, by award-winning playwright Barbara Kahn Theater for the New City, Crystal Field, Executive Artistic Director, proudly announces the world premiere production of Walking from Rumania, a historical drama written and directed by Barbara Kahn.

The critically acclaimed open mic series, Big Night Out returns! Billed as a delicious gathering for the musical community, Big Night Out is a unique and supportive environment for performers and composers of all backgrounds to come together and perform the music that they love. Hosted by The Fabulous Jennifer Wren, who made her cabaret debut in 2006 with her revue Love, Rainbows and All at Don't Tell Mama, and resident Musical Director William 'Bill' Zeffiro, singers are encouraged to try out new material, sing the roles that they aspire to play, sing the roles they will never play, or just show off for the joy of it.

After a successful debut in 2006 with her revue Love, Rainbows and All at Don't Tell Mama, singer Jennifer Wren returns with her critically acclaimed open mic series, Big Night Out. Billed as a delicious gathering for the musical community, Big Night Out is a unique and supportive environment for performers and composers of all backgrounds to come together and perform the music that they love. Participants, with the help of resident musical director and co-host William 'Bill' Zeffiro, singers are encouraged to try out new material, sing the roles that they aspire to play, sing the roles they will never play, or just show off for the joy of it.

Richard Kind ('The Tale of the Allergist's Wife' on Broadway) and Michelle Pawk (Tony winner, 'Hollywood Arms') will head the cast of Jeffrey Sweet's play Flyovers, set to receive its New York premiere Off-Broadway beginning previews January 29, 2009 prior to its official press opening night February 2 at the 78th Street Theatre Lab (236 West 78th Street) in Manhattan. Directed by Sandy Shinner, Flyovers is presented in New York by Artistic New Directions, Jeff Landsman and 78th Street Theatre Lab, where Mr. Sweet's acclaimed play Bluff was produced in 2006.

Richard Kind ('The Tale of the Allergist's Wife' on Broadway) and Michelle Pawk (Tony winner, 'Hollywood Arms') will head the cast of Jeffrey Sweet's play Flyovers, set to receive its New York premiere Off-Broadway beginning previews January 29, 2009 prior to its official press opening night February 2 at the 78th Street Theatre Lab (236 West 78th Street) in Manhattan. Directed by Sandy Shinner, Flyovers is presented in New York by Artistic New Directions, Jeff Landsman and 78th Street Theatre Lab, where Mr. Sweet's acclaimed play Bluff was produced in 2006.

Here it is - the year end 'holiday roundup' of books, which, by the way, make for a perfect gift...and an affordable one, that will last much longer than flowers, cookies or fruitcake (that no one wants anyway).